Okay, maybe that's overstating the case, but it makes the point: That's what life is like for Rutgers without an All-Big East-caliber tight end.

After eight straight years of being spoiled by L.J. Smith and Clark Harris, and after an All-American career by Marco Battaglia at the position, the Knights head into Saturday's Big East opener against No. 20-ranked Cincinnati with a telling -- and surprising -- statistic that details how dramatically production at the position has changed.

No. 21-ranked Rutgers (3-1) has played more games than it has catches by its tight ends (three).

Re-enter Kevin Brock -- perhaps.

Following a two-drop performance by redshirt freshman Shamar Graves in Saturday's 34-24 loss to Maryland, head coach Greg Schiano said he may be back to square one at the position.

That would be Brock, who opened preseason camp as the starter and then seemed to disappear into tight end limbo. The 6-5, 250-pounder could be "back in the mix" at the position, Schiano said, when the Bearcats visit Rutgers Stadium this weekend.

"It's another opportunity to get the job done," Brock said after practice yesterday. "You have to be ready whether you're the starter or the backup. It doesn't matter because anytime you're called on you have to be ready so the offense doesn't skip a beat."

Though Brock has appeared in all four games so far, he has done so as a bit player -- one month after being expected to extend the tradition at tight end for the Knights.

The fourth-year junior didn't just take a precipitous drop on the depth chart. He seemed to fall completely off it.

"Has it been frustrating? Not at all," said Brock, a walk-on from Hackensack High. "You can't get frustrated or get down on yourself. At some point you're going to be called on in some phase of the game. You've got to be ready."

Physically, Brock looks the part. But he wasn't able to impress enough to hold off Graves, a converted wide receiver, or Chris Rudanovic, a fifth-year senior who transferred from Indiana. Those two have combined for three drops, with Graves owning the only three catches by a tight end this season. He has never had more than one in a game.

With promising true freshman Fabian Ruiz slowed by hamstring and back problems, that has opened the door just enough for Brock to get a second -- and perhaps final -- chance.

"The way I see it, in our offense, the tight end is a very important part," Brock said, "so it's kind of different when you use multiple guys at tight end and you don't have multiple guys that are reliable. That's what (Schiano) wants. More guys he can count on."

Brock still believes he can be part of the solution, but he can't back it up with any credentials after almost four years. He has yet to catch a pass in a college game.

"I want to say I'm a balanced guy, but I'd say right now I'd be used more in the pass game," said Brock. "Run-game blocking is something I still have to improve on and get better at, especially now that we're in the conference. You're going to run the ball in the Big East and you need a tight end who can run-block."

No explanation has ever been offered by Schiano about Brock's fall from grace, although the former high school wide receiver said he had "one or two meetings" with the coaching staff to find out what he needed to do to get more playing time.

"They were up front. They told me," he said, declining to elaborate. "They told me I had to get better at certain things and if I did, I'd get more chances."

This is Brock's latest one. He knows it could be his last, since Graves and Ruiz appear to be the future at the position.

"People are used to a high level of play at the position here," he said. "Hopefully I can make the most of any chance I get."